Improvement in planing-machines



MV 'y Q Sheets--Shee 2,

S. w. NELSON. Planung-Machines..

Pate'nled Sep-tember16, 1873.

f 4 ma' IMM JMW UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFICE.

- SOTON W. NELSON. OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLANING-MACHINES.

zsnnciiieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 112,936, dated September 16, 1873; application tiled February 27, 1873.

cylinders and matchin g-heads. They are also, l

in part, applicable generally to cylinder planing or molding machines; and I do hereby declare that the following specicatiomtaken in connection with the drawings furnished 1nd forming a part of the same, is a clear, truaand accuratedescription of a machine embodying the several'and 'combinedfeaturesV of my invention.

My invention consists, rst,in a novel method of grinding the cutters, and involves the attachment of a grinding apparatus to the frame of the machine, adjacent to the cutter-head, by means of which the knives or cutters may be rapidly and efficiently sharpened while occupying their proper positions on the cutter-head, and while said cutter-head is in a proper working position in the machine, thus effecting a great saving in the time of the operator and of the machine, and'wholly avoiding the heretofore existingnecessity for careful and accurate adjustment of the knives on. the cutter-head, andthe cutter-head in its bearings, as has heretofore been necessary when.l lthe knives have been separately de-A tached, or the cutter-head removed from Athe machine, for the purpose of grindin g the knives or cutters; secondly, in a novel construction andarrangement of the mechanism for controlling the lateral movement of the matcherheads, by means of which both heads may be .controlled bya single screw, thus simplifying the construction of this portion of the machine, and facilitating the adjustment of the heads; thirdly, in a novel construction-of the pressure-plate over the under cutter-head, by means of; which it may readily be swungto the one side and aiord free access to the head; and also in certain other minor points, hereafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings, ot which two the. axis of the cutter-head.

adjusting the 'matcher-heads and the adjacent parts, involved in the third vfeature of my in-1 vention. Fig. 4, Sheet 2,-represents, in transverse section, the journal and box of a feedroller, and the yoke sustaining the same.

v A denotes the frame of the machine, which is preferably composed of cast-iron.

been specially designed, as shown by me, with a view to the proper distribution of bulk and strength,in order that economy in construe;

tion may be attained, as well as increased convenience and a lessened cost of transportationfand B/ denote the upper andlower cutter-heads, respectively. C and C denote the matcher-headspindles. D and D denote the upper feed-rollers of the frontend rear sets, respectively. E, in each instance, de-

notes a lower feed-roller.

These several devices, so far as relates to their functions, possess no novelty.

The mechanism involved in the iirst feature4 of. my invention is located adjacent to and# above the upper cutter-head B, and consists of two swinging cams,F and F', which are pivoted to the inclined uprights a., on the sides of which the two cutter-head boxes are mounted. The axes of the pivotsare truly coincident with each other, and parallel with Extending from one swinging arm to the other is a tie-rod, b, which unites the two, and with them virtually constitutes a frame, capable of being swung to and from the cutter-head. In each swinging arm is a curved slot, describing an arc of a circle, of which the pivot is the center. A set-screw, c, in the inclined standardxa, extends through theslot, and serves as a means for rigidly setting the arms at any desired radial position. G denotes a grindingwheel, which may be composed of stone, or any of th'e socalled emery compounds. It is mounted on a longitudinally-grooved shaft, d, and provided with a projecting lug within its hub, to loosely iit the groove. The hub of .the wheel has an angular groove cut in its periphery,v to which the upper end oi" a Fig. 3, Sheet 2, represents, in longitudinal section, the screw for It has a V2 Maese sliding yoke, e, is fitted. The lower end of said yoke embraces the rod h, which serves in this connection as a guide. The yoke and the grinding-wheel are made to move longitudinally on the'shaft d by means of an operating-rod, j', attached to the yoke, and extending through an opening in the swinging arms F. The grinder and its shaft are rotated by means of a belt-pulley, g, on one end of the shaft, to which power may be communicated from any convenient point. provided with set-screws h, which, by engaging with the4 upper section of the box, compress, without injury thereto, the journalsof the cutter-head, and thereby' may firmly hold the head in any desired position. Instead of removing the cutters for grinding, as has been heretofore customary, the cutter-head is properly fixed in position with one of its knives upward, and with its bevel on a line practically parallel with the horizontal plane of the machine. The grinding-wheel is thon brought down, properly adjusted to its grinding position, and permitted to revolve, during which it is moved lto and fro along the whole length of the edge. Care will necessarily be taken notto grind too fast, nor to neglect the application of proper cooling lubricants, usually essential in like cases. After one knife isl completed, `the next is brought up and treated as before described.

' Itis well known .that 'in adjusting cutters,`

great care and skill arerequisite, and that much loss is incurred by having the machine idle during this hitherto considered necessary operation after each grinding.

With my apparatus the knives may be set with edges as far from theperiphery of the cutterhead as may be considered safe, and never again removed, or require any readjustment .until actually worn up to the cutter-head, or so near thereto as to absolutely necessitate an adjustment for the prime purpose of advancing them therefrom.

So readily can the sharpening operation be effected thatit will be found desirable, 'after every hours work, `to devote a few minutes to the knives, and thus secure satisfactory results with actually less injury to the cutters than if neglected until thegrinding be absolutely unavoidable. By having the swinging frame capable of ready attachment at points fitted to receive it, adjacent to the under cutter-head, like results may be attained there with.

It is of great practical value to so combine the apparatus with the machine that no displacement of its 'several operative parts will be requisite.

I am aware that various devicesffor grinding planer-cutters have been employed, and that some have been arranged-to grind cutters while afxed to the cutter head, which was necessarily detached from the machine for that purpose; but I know of none which have, prior to my own invention, been practically adapted to accomplish that end while the knives are The cutter-head boxes arein proper position `on the cutter-head, and while the latter is in proper working l position in the machine'.

The mechanism involved in the second feature of my invention consists mainly in the adjusting-screw L, as combined with the vertical spindles C and C', on which the matcher- Fig. 3, Sheet 2, the improvement is fully illus` trated.` It is well understood that the lateral, -movement of these spindles is essential; that sometimes one or both of them require move ment toward or from the center ofthe machine. As heretofore constructed they have each been controlled by aseparate screw adapted thereto. As constructed by me both are operated by the one screw L by means of two bush-nuts, m and m', which are fitted to the screw, and also to circular bearings inthe carriages ofthe head-spindles. Each of these .nuts m is pro vided with a means for rendering i* fixed with relationto the spindle-carriage. In this instance a setscrew, a, is employed, which passes through the adjacent ,portion of the carriage and engages with the nut. It will be readily comprehended that when these nuts are securely held in their bearings by the setscrews they cannot revolve, and, therefore, on revolving the screw L the carriage will be moved to and fro. On the contrary, however, if the nut be free to revolve in its bearings in the carriage, ,it will also revolve freely with the screw, and therefore effect no movement of the carriage. A stay-rod or slide, o, isv provided above the screw L, which passes through the spiudlecarriages in such a manner that they can freely slide thereon. Set-screws are also provided for rigidly axing thecarriagesl to the slide-rod, when desired. v I

After having properly adjusted one spindle its nut m will be released, and the carriage secured to the slide-rod, although no movement longitudinally on the screw would be possible, except through its'rotary movement 5 the other spindle may then be adjusted with relation to the fixed one from time to time, as may bc desired. This construction and arrangement practically result in economy in manufacture and simplicity in operation.

The third feature of my invention is embodied in the pressure-plate R over the under cutter-head B. As heretofore constructed, these plates were necessarily removed bodily from their standards whenever access from viate this necessity it has even been proposed, and to a certain extent practiced, to slide the cutter-head longitudinally, in a carriage prepared for the purpose, out through an opening in the side of the frame. The pressure plate has also heretofore been so mounted swung up vertically to one side, necessitating therefor, however, a laborious lift endwise ot' the plate. The inconvenience and delay of the bodily handling of the plate, and the great expense involved in the sliding cutterheads are mounted in the. usual manner. In

above to the cutter-head was desired. To ob-` upon one of its standards that it could be' head, are obviated by my improvement, which consists in mounting the plate R in a heavy horizontal hinge-like bearing, r, at one end, by which it may be readily swung to one side and back again, requiring only to be secured when in position by means of the holding setscrew s. For securing a solid nonfrictional bearing below the knives, I employ a heavy cylindrical rotarybed, S, with the upper cutter-head B, and' so place them that the axes of the two will be parallel and on the same vertical line. The rotary bed is mounted on vertical slides T, which are vertically adj ustable in order that any slight wear in the bearings which may occur maybe readily compensated from time to time. On each side of the rotary bed are two small friction-rollers, t, which are also mounted on the slides T, but are capable of an independent vertical ad justment. By this means described a constant, never-varying, solid bearing for the timber or board being planed is attained at the very point at which it is most essential, and if properly backed up :at that point good results are usually attained.

I am aware that it is not new to place rollers in a bed for the mere purpose of relieving friction but I am not aware that a roller has ever before my invention been combined with a cutter-head in such a manner as. to serve as a-bed in itself', and to ali'ord a special bearing beneath the point at which the knives are to do their work.

The combination and arrangement of meehanisin employed by me for controlling the upper feed-rolls, as herein described, are believed lto be of my own invention, but are made in part the subject-matter of a separate pending application for Letters Patent. A description of this portion vof the machine is, however, incidentally herein described, as follows The shaft Il is provided with several worms, 7a, which engage with worm-gears 7c', which are keyed to horizontal shafts beneath the machine, and which are in turn geared to verticalscrews, by means of which the feedrollers are elevated. It willnot require further description to explain how., by turning the crank-shaft t", the several roller-screws are simultaneously operated.

None of the belting or gearing are shown or described. The main drum is located in its usual position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and any of the well-known methods of communicating power therefrom may be' adopted. i

For driving the grinder, a round belt may be profitably employed, and if detachable belt hooks or clasps are used the belt vmay readily be applied or removed. The grinding apparatus, substantially as herein described,

is to bemade the subject of a separate application, and it, therefore, in itself, is not spe! cically claimed herein. l

Havin g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent-` 1. The grinding apparatus, substantially as herein described, in combination with a cutting-cylinder ofaplaning machine, and in proper relation therewith, whereby the several knives or cutters may be successively ground while properly adjusted on the cutter-head and in proper position inthe machine.

2. The combination, with the matcher-head.

erally away from the under cutter-head, as

described.

' SOLON W. NELSON.

Witnesses:

J. .HENRY Hrm., H. C. Rien. 

